Tinted contact lenses with combined limbal ring and iris patterns

ABSTRACT

The invention provides tinted contact lenses that include a limbal ring that serves to enhance the definition of the wearer&#39;s iris resulting in the iris appearing larger to viewer&#39;s of the lens wearer. The lens also incorporates additional elements that overlie a portion of the wearer&#39;s iris. The lenses of the invention may be used as cosmetic lenses for enhancing or altering an individual&#39;s iris.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to tinted contact lenses. In particular, theinvention provides contact lenses that either enhance or change thecolor of a lens wearer's iris.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The use of tinted, or colored, contact lenses to either or both alterthe natural color of the iris and to mask ophthalmic abnormalities iswell known. Typically, these lenses use either or both opaque andtranslucent colors to change the color of an iris, as for example, frombrown to blue. Additionally, tinted lenses have been manufactured thatattempt to enhance the color of a dark-eyed person without changing thecolor of the iris. These lenses are disadvantageous because either thecolor enhancement is too subtle to be noticed when the lens is on-eye orthe enhancement lends an unnatural appearance to the wearer's iris.Therefore, a need exists for lenses that enhance the color of a dark eyethat overcomes these disadvantages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a scanned image of one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a scanned image of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a scanned image of a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a scanned image of a fourth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a scanned image of a fifth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a scanned image of a sixth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 7 is a scanned image of a seventh embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a scanned image of an eighth embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a scanned image of a ninth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention provides tinted contact lenses, and methods for theirmanufacture, that enhance the lens wearer's iris. The lenses of theinvention have a pattern that includes a limbal ring that serves toenhance the definition of the wearer's iris resulting in the irisappearing larger to viewer's of the lens wearer. Additionally, thelenses of the invention have additional pattern elements that partiallyoverlie the wearer's iris. The lenses of the invention may find greatestutility as cosmetic lenses for enhancing a dark-eyed individual's iris,but also may be used to enhance the iris of a light-eyed lens wearer aswell.

In one embodiment, the invention provides a contact lens comprising,consisting essentially of, and consisting of a limbal ring and a fibrousdot pattern.

By “limbal ring” is meant an annular band of color that, when the lensis on-eye and centered, partially or substantially completely overliesthe lens wearer's limbal region, or the junction of the sclera with thecornea. Preferably, the limbal ring substantially completely overliesthe limbal region. The innermost border, or edge closest to thegeometric center of the lens, of the limbal ring may be at a diameter ofabout 8 mm to about 12 mm, preferably about 9 to about 11 mm, from thelens'geometric center. The ring may be of any suitable width andpreferably is about 0.5 to about 2.5 mm in width, more preferably about0.75 to about 1.25 mm in width.

Adjacent to the limbal ring's innermost edge is a fibrous dot pattern.By “fibrous dot pattern” is meant a pattern of dots that are arrangedsuch that they appear to form a plurality of fibrous structures in whicheach of the individual fibrous structures may or may not be intertwinedwith other of the fibrous structures. The dot pattern used in the lensesof the invention does not extend over the entire iris portion of thelens, meaning the portion of the lens that overlies the iris when thelens is on-eye and centered. Rather, the dot pattern extends inwardlyfrom the innermost edge of the limbal ring so that the innermost border,or edge relative to the geometric center of the lens, of the fibrous dotpattern is located at about 6.5 mm or greater, preferably about 7 mm orgreater from the geometric center of the lens. The dots used in thepattern may be of any size and preferably are about 0.060 to about 0.180mm in diameter, more preferably about 0.0075 to about 0.0125 mm indiameter.

In FIG. 1 is shown limbal ring-fibrous dot pattern 10. In thisembodiment, limbal ring 11 is a black opaque band that is approximately1 mm in width. Beginning at the innermost border 14 of limbal ring 11and extending inwardly towards the geometric center of the lens isfibrous dot pattern 12 composed of a plurality of substantiallyintertwined fibrous structures. Preferably, the fibrous structures arerandom, meaning that no repeating clusters of fibrous structures areincluded in the fibrous dot pattern. The innermost border 15 of fibrousdot pattern 12 lies at a diameter of 7 mm from the geometric center ofthe lens. Innermost borders 14 and 15 as shown are even, regularborders, but either or both may have an uneven, irregularly shape. Alsoshown is area 13, a region in which there are no pattern elements. Area13 will overlie part of the iris portion as well as the whole of thepupil portion, which pupil portion will overlie the wearer's pupil, whenthe lens is on-eye and centered. As shown and preferably, area 13 isclear. However area 13 may be an area of translucent or opaque color orany combination of opaque and translucent colors.

FIG. 2 depicts another embodiment, pattern 20. Pattern 20 includesfibrous dot pattern 22 that begins at the innermost edge 24 of limbalring 21. An area 25 also is included in which area a plurality ofrandomly placed dots overlay a part of fibrous dot pattern 22. Area 25provides a blending of the border between limbal ring 21 and fibrous dotpattern 22 and may be of any width. Preferably, area 25 is of a widthsuch that it extends over or overlies about 1 to about 90%, preferablyabout 5 to about 50%, more preferably about 5 to about 25% of thefibrous dot pattern. As shown, area 25 overlies about 25 percent offibrous dot pattern 22. Innermost border 26 of the fibrous dot patternends at a diameter that is 7 mm from the lens' geometric center andborders area 23 in which there are no pattern elements. FIG. 3 depictsyet another embodiment, dot pattern 30 in which there is random dotoverlay 31 of the border between the limbal ring and fibrous dotpattern. In this embodiment, the random dots are more numerous andextend further inwardly toward innermost border 32 of the fibrous dotpattern. As shown, random dot overlay 31 overlies about 64 percent offibrous dot pattern. FIG. 4 is a fourth and preferred embodiment of thelimbal ring-fibrous dot pattern. Pattern 42 contains random dot overlay41. The innermost border 42 of the fibrous dot pattern is about 6.5 mmfrom the lens' geometric center. As shown, random dot overlay 41overlies about 90% percent of fibrous dot pattern. Alternatively, therandom dot pattern may be such that, as one moves inwardly toward thelens' geometric center, the dots become less numerous forming a dotdensity gradient.

In another embodiment, the invention provides a contact lens comprising,consisting essentially of, and consisting of a limbal ring and a spokedot pattern.

By “spoke dot pattern” is meant a pattern of dots in which clusters ofdots are arranged in arrays such that each dot cluster appears to form astructure that extends inwardly toward the geometric center of the lensand that substantially resembles a spoke in a wheel. The spoke dotpattern of the invention does not extend over the entire iris portion ofthe lens, but rather extends inwardly from the innermost edge of thelimbal ring so that the innermost edge of the spoke pattern is locatedat about 6.5 mm or greater, preferably about 7 mm or greater from thegeometric center of the lens. The dots may be of any size and preferablyare about 0.060 to about 0.180 mm in diameter, more preferably about0.075 to about 0.125 mm in diameter. The dimensions and location of thelimbal ring may be the same as for the limbal ring-fibrous dot patterns.

In FIG. 5 is shown a preferred spoke-dot pattern 50. In this embodiment,limbal ring 51 is a black opaque band that is approximately 1 mm inwidth. Beginning at the innermost border 56 of limbal ring 51 andextending inwardly towards the geometric center of the lens are multiplespokes 52, the innermost border 54 of which lies at a diameter of 7 mmfrom the geometric center of the lens. Although all of the spokes aregenerally similarly configured, preferably no one of the spokes isexactly the same as another of the spokes. The spokes are interspersed,or bordered, by spaces 57 in which spaces there are no elements or asshown, and preferably, a few isolated dots 53 or isolated dots alongwith dot clusters 58 are included. Spaces 57 are also generally allsimilarly configured, but preferably no one of the spaces is of theexact same configuration as any of the other of the spaces or spokes.Area 55 is a region in which there are no pattern elements, which areawill partially overlie the iris portion as well as the whole of thepupil portion. As shown, area 55 is clear, but it may be colored aswell. Innermost borders 56 as shown is of an uneven, irregularly shape,but may be an even border. Similarly, although spoke border 54 forms asubstantially even border, it may form an uneven border.

In FIG. 6 is shown an alternative pattern 60. In this embodiment,beginning at the innermost border 64 of limbal ring 61 and extendinginwardly towards the geometric center of the lens is a spoke dot patternwith multiple spokes 62, the innermost boundary 63 of which lies at adiameter of 7 mm from the geometric center of the lens. An area 66 isincluded in which multiple, random dots overlay the innermost portion ofthe spokes 62 to provide a blending of the border between limbal ring 61and the spokes. The overlay may be of the same coverage as in thefibrous dot patterns and as shown, overlies about 30% of the spoke dotpattern. The spokes 62 are bordered by spaces 67 in which spaces thereare no elements or, as shown and preferably, a few isolated dots 68, areincluded. Area 65 is a region in which there are no pattern elements,which area will partially overlie the iris portion as well as the pupilportion.

In FIG. 7 is shown yet another alternative pattern 70. In thisembodiment, the spoke dot pattern has multiple spokes 72 and 73, spokes72 being longer than spokes 73 and both of which spokes are formed bydensely packed dots. As shown, spokes 72 and 73 are spaced at regularintervals from one another, but may be irregularly spaced as well.Additionally, each of spokes 72 and are all of the substantially sameshape, but they may be of differing shapes as may the case for spokes73. An annular area 74 is included in which multiple dots overlay spokes73 and 72. The dots in area 74 become less numerous as one movesinwardly toward the geometric center of the lens forming a dot densitygradient. Area 74 provides a blending of the border between limbal ring71 and spokes 72 and 73 and overlies about 90% of the spoke dot pattern.

In yet another embodiment, the invention provides a lens comprising,consisting essentially of, and consisting of a limbal ring, a fibrousdot pattern, and a spoke dot pattern. In FIGS. 8 and 9 are shownpatterns 80 and 90, respectively. In each of these embodiments, thespoke dot pattern has multiple spokes 82 and 92, respectively, formed bydensely packed dots. As shown, the spokes are spaced at regularintervals from one another, but may be irregularly spaced as well.Beginning at the innermost borders 84 and 94 of limbal ring 81 and 91,respectively, and extending inwardly towards the geometric center of thelens are fibrous dot patterns 83 and 93, the innermost boundaries 85 and95 of which each lie at a diameter of about 7 mm from the geometriccenter of the lens. An area 86 and 96 is included in each of FIGS. 8 and9, respectively, which are areas of multiple dots that overlay about 46%of spokes 82 and 92 and fibrous dot patterns 83 and 93 to provide ablending of the border between limbal rings, spokes and fibrous dotpattern.

As used in a lens for either enhancing or altering the wearer's eyecolor, preferably the limbal ring element is a solid band of color thatmasks the color of the lens wearer's limbal region and more preferablythe masking color is an opaque color. The remaining elements, the dotswhich make up the fibrous and spoke patterns, random dots, dot clusters,and gradient may be translucent or opaque depending on the desiredon-eye result. For purposes of the invention, by “translucent” is meanta color that permits an average light transmittance (% T) in the 380 to780 nm range of about 60 to about 99%, preferably about 65 to about 85%T. By “opaque” is meant a color that permits an average lighttransmittance (% T) in the 380 to 780 nm range of 0 to about 55,preferably 7 to about 50% T.

The color of the limbal ring may be substantially the same as, orcomplementary to, the color selected for the remaining elements.Preferably, all elements are of the same color. The color selected foreach of the limbal ring and remaining pattern elements will bedetermined by the natural color of the lens wearer's iris and theenhancement or color change desired. Thus, elements may be any colorincluding, without limitation, any of a variety of hues and chromas ofblue, green, gray, brown, black yellow, red, or combinations thereof.Preferred colors for the limbal ring include, without limitation, any ofthe various hues and chromas of black, brown and gray.

The elements, may be made from any organic or inorganic pigment suitablefor use in contact lenses, or combinations of such pigments. The opacitymay be controlled by varying the concentration of the pigment andtitanium dioxide used, with higher amounts yielding greater opacity.Illustrative organic pigments include, without limitation,phthalocyanine blue, phthalocyanine green, carbazole violet, vat orange# 1, and the like and combinations thereof. Examples of useful inorganicpigments include, without limitation, iron oxide black, iron oxidebrown, iron oxide yellow, iron oxide red, titanium dioxide, and thelike, and combinations thereof. In addition to these pigments, solubleand non-soluble dyes may be used including, without limitation,dichlorotriazine and vinyl sulfone-based dyes. Useful dyes and pigmentsare commercially available.

The dye or pigment selected may be combined with one or more of apre-polymer, or binding polymer, and a solvent to form the colorant usedto produce the translucent and opaque layers used in the lenses of theinvention. Other additives useful in contact lens colorants also may beused. The binding polymers, solvents, and other additives useful in thecolor layers of the invention are known and either commerciallyavailable or methods for their making are known.

The elements may be applied to, or printed on, one or more surfaces of alens or may be printed onto one or more surfaces of a mold into which alens forming material will be deposited and cured. In a preferred methodfor forming lenses incorporating the designs of the invention, athermoplastic optical mold, made from any suitable material including,without limitation, cyclic polyolefins and polyolefins such aspolypropylene or polystyrene resin is used. The elements are depositedonto the desired portion of the molding surface of the mold. By “moldingsurface” is meant the surface of a mold or mold half used to form asurface of a lens. Preferably, the deposition is carried out by padprinting as follows.

A metal plate, preferably made from steel and more preferably fromstainless steel, is covered with a photo resist material that is capableof becoming water insoluble once cured. The elements are selected ordesigned and then reduced to the desired size using any of a number oftechniques such as photographic techniques, placed over the metal plate,and the photo resist material is cured.

The plate is subsequently washed with an aqueous solution and theresulting image is etched into the plate to a suitable depth, forexample about 20 microns. A colorant containing a binding polymer,solvent, and pigment or dye is then deposited onto the elements to fillthe depressions with colorant. A silicon pad of a geometry suitable foruse in printing on the surface and varying hardness, generally about 1to about 10, is pressed against the image on the plate to remove thecolorant and the colorant is then dried slightly by evaporation of thesolvent. The pad is then pressed against the molding surface of anoptical mold. The mold is degassed for up to 12 hours to remove excesssolvents and oxygen after which the mold is filled with lens material. Acomplementary mold half is then used to complete the mold assembly andthe mold assembly is exposed to conditions suitable to cure the lensmaterial used. Such conditions are well known in the art and will dependupon the lens material selected. Once curing is completed and the lensis released from the mold, it is equilibrated in a buffered salinesolution.

In a preferred embodiment, a clear, pre-polymer layer is used, whichpre-polymer layer overlays at least the limbal ring and dot patterns andpreferably forms the entirety of the lens' outermost surface. Thepre-polymer may be any polymer that is capable of dispersing the pigmentand any opacifying agent used.

The invention may be used to provide tinted hard or soft contact lensesmade of any known lens-forming material, or material suitable formanufacturing such lenses. Preferably, the lenses of the invention aresoft contact lenses the material selected for forming the lenses of theinvention being any material suitable for producing soft contact lenses.Suitable preferred materials for forming soft contact lenses using themethod of the invention include, without limitation, siliconeelastomers, silicone-containing macromers including, without limitation,those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,371,147, 5,314,960, and 5,057,578incorporated in their entireties herein by reference, hydrogels,silicone-containing hydrogels, and the like and combinations thereof.More preferably, the surface is a siloxane, or contains a siloxanefunctionality, including, without limitation, polydimethyl siloxanemacromers, methacryloxypropyl polyalkyl siloxanes, and mixtures thereof,silicone hydrogel or a hydrogel, made of monomers containing hydroxygroups, carboxyl groups, or both or be made from silicone-containingpolymers, such as siloxanes, hydrogels, silicone hydrogels, andcombinations thereof. Materials for making soft contact lenses are wellknown and commercially available. Preferably, the material isacquafilcon, etafilcon, genfilcon, lenefilcon, balafilcon, lotrafilcon,or galyfilcon.

1. A contact lens, comprising a limbal ring and a spoke dot pattern. 2.The lens of claim 1, wherein the spoke dot pattern comprises a pluralityof spokes interspersed with a plurality of spaces.
 3. The lens of claim2, further comprising one or more of isolated dots and dot clusters ineach of the spaces.
 4. The lens of claim 2, wherein no one of the spokesis of a configuration that is the same as any of the other of the spokesand no one of the spaces is of a configuration that is the same as anyof the other spaces or of any of the spokes.
 5. A contact lens,comprising a limbal ring, a fibrous dot pattern, and a spoke dotpattern.